😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,865 in Lulea versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,060 in Lulea versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,256 in Lulea versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Lulea is roughly 28% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lulea40% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.56SEK 121
$13.07MX$229
-3.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.6SEK 911
$53.8MX$940
75.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.60SEK 112
$9.68MX$169
19.83%
Cappuccino
$4.87SEK 46.91
$3.74MX$65.4
30.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55SEK 24.56
$1.62MX$28.25
57.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SEK 19.01
$1.16MX$20.31
69.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.57SEK 82.6
$3.23MX$56.4
165.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.97SEK 96.0
$4.74MX$82.9
110.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.64
$1.65MX$28.80
16.97%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42SEK 32.98
$2.75MX$48.15
24.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.07SEK 48.86
$1.87MX$32.77
171.12%
Eggs
$4.74SEK 45.70
$2.50MX$43.72
89.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.76SEK 123
$10.20MX$178
25.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.05SEK 135
$8.25MX$144
70.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.00SEK 270
$11.82MX$207
136.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61SEK 25.15
$3.01MX$52.6
-13.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76SEK 26.58
$1.81MX$31.67
52.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60SEK 25.03
$2.00MX$34.96
30.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.36SEK 42.04
$2.00MX$34.89
118.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23SEK 21.48
$2.08MX$36.45
7.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66SEK 15.95
$2.27MX$39.72
-26.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.48SEK 33.52
$1.46MX$25.47
138.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44SEK 13.84
$1.08MX$18.82
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42SEK 71.5
$4.35MX$76.0
70.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.34SEK 119
$16.99MX$297
-27.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88SEK 18.15
$1.73MX$30.31
8.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85SEK 17.87
$3.58MX$62.5
-48.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.36SEK 32.35
$0.39MX$6.77
761.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.3SEK 562
$18.69MX$327
211.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.54SEK 91.9
$1.33MX$23.18
617.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73SEK 16.68
$0.28MX$4.89
517.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$74.5SEK 718
$5.25MX$91.8
1318.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89SEK 18.22
$1.34MX$23.37
41.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 310.2K
$19.4KMX$339.4K
65.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KSEK 343.7K
$23.8KMX$416.7K
49.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176SEK 1,692
$40.69MX$712
331.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.87SEK 307
$26.87MX$470
18.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56SEK 275
$30.51MX$534
-6.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.58SEK 468
$52.8MX$923
-7.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.54SEK 352
$26.65MX$466
37.11%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73SEK 132
$6.51MX$114
110.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163SEK 1,566
$428MX$7,485
-62.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,827SEK 56.2K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
-44.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$124SEK 1,190
$57.3MX$1,001
115.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.60SEK 324
$45.50MX$796
-26.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130SEK 1,252
$104MX$1,819
24.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170SEK 1,643
$108MX$1,885
58.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$806SEK 7,765
$1,003MX$17.5K
-19.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589SEK 5,675
$623MX$10.9K
-5.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,441SEK 13.9K
$2,109MX$36.9K
-31.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081SEK 10.4K
$1,218MX$21.3K
-11.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,107SEK 29.9K
$3,885MX$67.9K
-20.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,323SEK 22.4K
$2,033MX$35.5K
14.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lulea
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,654SEK 25.6K
$1,038MX$18.1K
155.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.2
11.34
-62.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lulea: July 11, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $806 in Lulea and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 156% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $95.0 in Lulea vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 vs $292 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lulea vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lulea or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Lulea. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lulea or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 156% higher in Lulea, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lulea compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $806 in Lulea versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lulea or in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Lulea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Lulea and in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $95.0 in Lulea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lulea or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,865 in Lulea, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lulea. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lulea or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,456 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Lulea compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Lulea and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Lulea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.